KIWIFRUIT ROOT SYSTEMS: STRUCTURE & FUNCTION

Abstract:
Kiwifruit root systems can explore large volumes of soil, up to 80 m3. On the basis of root length per unit volume of soil, mean densities within these volumes fall in the range 0.5–1.1 cm cm-3 and root length densities can be as high as 7 cm cm-3 within 1 m of the base of the vine.
These densities are an order of magnitude greater than those found under other horticultural trees and vines.
Kiwifruit roots are clumped.
Relatively large volumes, up to 20% of the rooting volume, of soil contains no roots.
In this they differ from other trees and vines.
We use a simulation model to study aspects of water extracton by kiwifruit root systems.